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==Hives=====Fairhaven Bible Chapel===In April 1954those early days, a group left Bethany Gospel Hall up to build the Castlemont Bible Chapel at 90th Avenue 1930's, conference format was to begin with an open platform, and Thermal Street speakers ot come forward as led by the Spirit. Ross remarked in The Barley Cake, "in the Castlemont district absence of Oakland. About 25 men a humanly appointed chairman and women formed the initial fellowship. An auditorium seating about 200 with a lot program, many were afraid of Sunday school rooms was ample for many years scenes of progressdisorder and confusion. This assembly is now known as [[Fairhaven Bible Chapel, CA|Fairhaven Bible Chapel]] in San Leandro, built in 1959, All so afraid were happily and occupied by 1962agreeably disappointed."
* [[Who's Who After a church-planting seminar in the Spring of 1982 at Fairhaven, Bill had remarked during his message, "Perhaps the reason older men do not plant new assemblies is because younger men never invite them to do so." This inspired Don Robertson to invite Bill to join their church-planting team. With the joint blessing of both Fairhaven and Bethany Gospel , the seven men and their families planted what is now Calvary Bible Chapel, Oaklandthe first week of October 1982. They initially held meetings in the homes of neighboring families Howard and Kathie Ormbsby, and Scott and Cathy Clark, CA|Who's Who in San Lorenzo. They presently meet at Bethany Gospel Hall/Chapel]]32701 Fremont Drive in nearby Fremont.
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Charles also edited an evangelistic paper, "The Evangelist", as well as connection with "The Gospel Trumpet". No known copies exist of either, but one of them was a "weekly gospel paper, averaging 5,000 copies... circulated all over the city and elsewhere".
In 1889, Charles was listed as owner of the Bull & Grant Farm Implement Company, the president of the West Coast Steamship Company, owner of the Montgomery's Hotel, founder of the Bible Truth Depot, as well as connected to the John F. Myers & Co. His brother William, also in 1889, was in a joint venture with Charles as proprietors of the American Exchange Hotel. There was also a "Montgomery Chas. & Co" listed in conjunction with James West and John Elliott, at 118 Third and 41 Sixth as grocers and tea merchants. Later that year, he was forced to sell the grocery business, as well as the American Exchange Hotel due to investment in a swindler, but 1893 found Charles owning three hotels: Brooklyn Hotel, Montgomery's Hotel, and the Silver State Hotel.
In 1896, Montgomery is credited with introducing [[Henry Allen Ironside|Harry Ironside]] to the Brethren, after Ironside benefited at the Salvation Army center in Oakland reading [[George Cutting]]'s tract "Safety, Certainty and Enjoyment" and discovered that Montgomery was among the same Brethren as Cutting. After only two weeks in fellowship with the San Francisco Gospel Hall (now [[Parkside Gospel Chapel]]), Ironside was invited to address the meeting, while staying at Montgomery's Hotel. He preached on Isaiah 53, and they encouraged him to continue preaching and studying the Bible. When Ironside objected that he knew so little, they told him "God will give you more as you go on." In 1899, upon attending fourteen weeks of meetings by David Little, Ironside joined the Grant Exclusives for the next thirty years, while remaining friendly with the Open Brethren his entire life.
==Oakland 1887==
Ross notes in one of his letters a near absence of young men in the tents, mostly "in drink or bent on mischief", although there's occasional testimony of being saved in a gold or quartz mine in the hills, as well as one is a nearby schoolhouse. He adds, "worldliness and gold hunting seem to be the prevailing pursuit of the pioneer classes, and success in filthy lucre accumulations, appears to be believed the triumph and crowning glory of all human life."
Dwight L. Moody visited San Francisco in 1889, as did George Mueller.
==Early Days of Bethany==
From the gospel tent into the home, afterwards, the Christians rented a storefront for a time, and in 1912 constructed the Bethany Gospel Hall in Oakland on San Pablo Avenue. This beautiful building graces the cover of the book [https://www.gospelfolio.com/product/my-people-history-of-the-brethren-1820-1980s/ "My People"], written by Robert Baylis. In 1955, the assembly built the Bethany Gospel Chapel on Tompkins Avenue in Oakland. ==California Conference 1887-present==In October 1887Upon finishing the construction, the first California Conference a unique calligraphy was held in San Francisco, and this conference, now convening at Thanksgiving time, has continued gifted to this daythe Chapel by C.J. Rolls.
==CommendationsBay Area Conference 1887==* William Spees* William Deans* Ruth Johnson* Fred October 26-30, 1887, the first Bay Area Conference was held at a rented hall at 899 Mission Street, San Francisco, and this conference, now convening at Thanksgiving time, has continued to this day. Preacchers included Donald Munro, Donald Ross and Charles Montgomery. Christians were present from Oakland, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Placerville, as well as from New Zealand, England, Scotland and Jenny Kosin* William MacDonald* Clifford BeggsCanada.
===Alameda Gospel Chapel=Bay Area Conference 1888==The [[Alameda Gospel ChapelDonald Munro returned, with his associate J.K. M'Ewen, first in Los Angeles, CA|Alameda Gospel Chapel]] hived off then in San Francisco. Two young men from Bethany Gospel Chapel about 1970the Midlands in England, Will Roberts and Jack Baylis were converted, while staying at Montgomery's Hotel, invited by the result manager, Mrs. Wentworth. Roberts became president of a Sunday School outreach in that areaRoberts Manufacturing Co. [[Fairhaven Bible Chapel, CA|Fairhaven Bible Chapel]] also played a role in starting this the largest lighting fixture and three other assemblies: chandelier company on the San Lorenzo Bible ChapelWest Coast, and a leading member in Oakland. Baylis' family continued in the Santa Rosa Assemblyassemblies for three generations, and the Valley Bible Church Jack living in PleasantonAlameda.
==Later Years==Bethany Gospel Chapel was ready to close in the mid-1980's and was approached by a South Korean assembly wanting to merge with them, which did for a number of years. Then a Romanian evangelical group emigrated after that, and rented the basement as Maranatha Gospel Chapel, with leaders including Simon Frone, Owen Lobos and Moses Neagu, eventually merging with Bethany with a few additional meetings available in Romanian.
At some juncture the South Korean group relocated, then the Romanian group dispersed, leaving four families, two families are twenty minutes away, and two other families over an hour away.
Since 2017, a church of Ethiopians of an evangelical brethren-like manner in their home country, but more of an anointed nature since emigrating, has been renting the building, and hopes are to donate the building eventually.
==CorrespondentsWho's Who==* [[Who's Who at Bethany Gospel Chapel, Oakland, CA|Who's Who at Bethany Gospel Hall/EldersChapel]] ==Hives=====Market Street Gospel Hall, Oakland 1931===* Simon Frone 1989-presentIn December 1931, Mrs. Englebretson Stenson started a Bible reading in her home on Myrtle Street, later known as the Market Street Gospel Hall. Last headed up by Ed Baylis, and closed in the 1950's. ===Dublin Canyon Gospel Hall 1933===Opened in 1933, chiefly through efforts of some sisters who desired their children to have a Sunday School, several Bethany Hall brethren giving initial help, and many saved in that district. Bill McConnell particularly credited, as well as Willie Brown, who was an active speaker. * Moise Neagu 1985-2016 (===Fairhaven Bible Chapel, San Leandro 1954===In 1951, a group of 22 people Bethany Hall were concerned of the lack of a good evangelical testimony in East Oakland, which had grown significantly during the war. A lot was purchased late in 1951, Jack Davies drew up the plans for a building, and construction was done primarily by the group themselves. Services commenced on Easter Sunday, 1952. to build the Castlemont Bible Chapel at 90th Avenue and Thermal Street in the Castlemont district of Oakland. About 25 men and women formed the initial fellowship. An auditorium seating about 200 with a lot of Sunday school rooms was ample for many years of progress. Within seven years this grew to 175. One year forty-2016)two people were baptized. This assembly is now known as [[Fairhaven Bible Chapel, CA|Fairhaven Bible Chapel]] in San Leandro, with new building built around 1960, and occupied by 1962. Founders included Ben & Hettie Warner, Allen & Evelyn Jones, Jean & June Gibson, Sam & Lillian Gattey, Jack K. Young, Jack & Mary Ellen Davison, Paul & Adele Harper, Jack & Mae Copeland, Doug Kerr, Lillian McPherson, Shirley McPherson, and John & Mary Lou Gray. Initial leaders were Ben Warner, Jean Gibson, and Mr. & Mrs. Allen Jones. Other founders included Charles Armstrong, Mr. & Mrs. Kent Bolter, Ann & Judith Field, Mr. & Mrs. Keith Harrower, Mr. & Mrs. George T. Raust, Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Richardson, Mrs. Ben Warner, and Mrs. Edna Welch, and eventually joined by Jack & Florence Davies. ===Alameda Gospel Chapel 1970===* Owen Lobos (bThe [[Alameda Gospel Chapel, CA|Alameda Gospel Chapel]] hived off from Bethany Gospel Chapel about 1970, the result of a Sunday School outreach in that area. [[Fairhaven Bible Chapel, CA|Fairhaven Bible Chapel]] also played a role in starting this and three other assemblies: the San Lorenzo Bible Chapel, the Santa Rosa Assembly, and the Valley Bible Church in Pleasanton. 1944)* Thomas Jensen Hill (1906-2007)===Calvary Bible Chapel, Fremont 1982===In early 1982, four men at [[Fairhaven Bible Chapel, CA|Fairhaven Bible Chapel]] in San Leandro were praying about planting a new assembly in San Lorenzo, CA. These men were Rick Belles, Scott Clark, Howard Ormsbey, and Tony Payne. Simultaneously, two men attending Bethany Gospel Chapel, Carl Knott and Don Robertson, were praying about starting an assembly in Castro Valley. William MacDonald, with knowledge of both groups, recommended the two groups merging to plant one assembly.
==Sources==
* [https://www.gospelfolio.com/product/brethren-by-the-bay-the/ "The Brethren by the Bay"], by Robert H. Baylis; reprinted 2006;
* The Barley Cake, 1887
* Ancestry.com
* [https://www.calvarybiblechapel.net/our-history Calvary Bible Chapel, Fremont website]
